IS© Formation of muriatic Acid ly Galvanism, 



sentcd to the Societa Italiana ; and have led me to a ktiow> 

 ledge of the constituent elements of an acid which has hi- 

 therto proved refractory to all the efforts of chemistry. I 

 speak of the muriatic acid, hitherto tortured in vain* with 

 the electric spark, caloric, and all the play of affinity. You 

 are perfectly acquainted with the different and di5.cordant 

 opinions of the most recent and approved writers concern- 

 ing the nature of this acid ; .some of them considering it as 

 a simple combustible body, others as formed of an unknown 

 base combined with oxygen; and, lastly, others as a simple 

 substance naturally acid. But these opinions have not con- 

 •Iributed to the advancement of science, and are justly 

 esteemed as mere hypotheses destitute of proof. 



" Having, however, neglected these hypotheses, and 

 considered the means !>}• which the discovery of the nature 

 of this acid has been hitherto attempted, it appeared to me 

 that one had not yet been tried, viz. the continued action 

 of the pile of the celebrated Volta, and I suspected that il 

 might assist ir^ leading me to discoveries which had hitherto 

 escaped the research of experimental philosophers. As far 

 as I can judge, my endeavours have been crowned with 

 success, and have furnished me with satisfactory evidence 

 of the nature of the constituent principles of muriatic acid. 



" The simplicity of the apparatus, and of the means 

 adopted to attain my views, the care with which I endea- 

 voured to avoid every source of error, have, I hope, suffi- 

 ciently secured me against those illusions which frequently 

 deceive young men ardent hi the pursuit of science, and 

 even those practised in the art of extorting from nature her 

 secrets. Want of time prevents me from relating the series 

 of experiments hy which I arrived at the discovery I have 

 mentioned ; but you may see it by perusing the manuscript 

 of mv memoir, which will be immediatdy published, to 

 submit my researches and their results to the judgment oi 

 the learned. For the present, I shall select frojw the expe- 

 riments and facts therein described those which are decisive, 

 and which establish, in an evident manner, the following 

 truths : 



*' I. Muriatic acid is an oxide of hydrogen, and conse- 

 quently composed of hydrogen and oxygen. 



'* If. In the oxygenated muriatic acid, and therefore, a 

 fortiori, in muriatic acid, there is a much less proportion 

 of oxygen than in water. 



• Professor Pacchioni could not possibly know that his discoveries had 

 been in some measure anticipated by Mr. Peel, of Cambridge. — ^ote of tkt 

 lUitort of the Edinburgh Mtdicat Journal. 



8 . «III. Hy- 



J 



